NAGPUR: Joe Root and Steve Smith – their names define an era, their wickets are prized possessions for any bowler. But for Ravindra Jadeja, they have simply been regular scalps in his remarkable career. Dismiss them once, and it’s a moment to cherish. Dismiss them 23 times, and you own them. Few bowlers can claim to have repeatedly outfoxed two of the greatest batters of their generation, but Jadeja has done it with a mix of cunning, control, and sheer mastery over his craft.
So when Rohit Sharma tossed the ball to his veteran spinner on Thursday, Root – despite his comfort against Kuldeep Yadav – knew the real battle had just begun. The partnership between Root and England captain Jos Buttler was brewing into something dangerous, threatening to take England deep into the innings. But Jadeja sensed the moment. He sent down a skiddy, darting delivery at over 100 kmph, one that hurried onto Root’s pads before he could react. The appeal was loud, the umpire’s finger went up, and Root stood there in disbelief. The review was a mere formality – the damage was done. Jadeja had trapped his prey for the 12th time.
With that, Ravindra Jadeja marched into an elite club, becoming only the fifth Indian to claim 600 international wickets. The great Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Harbhajan Singh, and R Ashwin now have company – Jadeja has sealed his name among India’s finest.
It wasn’t just the milestone that made Thursday special. Jadeja’s terrific 3/26 in 9 overs put the brakes on England’s charge at crucial moments. When England sought acceleration in the middle overs, he suffocated them with his relentless accuracy. When Jacob Bethell, fresh off a hard-fought fifty, looked to change gears, Jadeja once again delivered – this time with another skidding arm-ball that shattered England’s hopes of a late flourish.
The left-armer’s recent red-hot form was on full display. Coming off a sensational 10-wicket haul for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, he carried that rhythm into this ODI, reminding the world why he is an automatic selection in any Indian XI.
Jadeja also etched his name into the record books as the highest wicket-taker in India-England ODIs played in India, surpassing James Anderson (40 wickets) and leaving behind Andrew Flintoff (37). And with 6,000 international runs to complement his 600 wickets, Jadeja now stands alone – a one-of-a-kind Indian spinner.
As India eyes the Champions Trophy, a fit, firing, and fierce Jadeja could be the MVP for India.
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